Blackhawks beat Avalanche

I just got back from the game and let me say great win. The first period they played bad, they did not clear the puck out of their zone. They were lucky to have the score 1-0 Avs at the end of the first period. Then something clicked and they played with heart. I really think that coach Q is the reason why they are winning. They played the 2nd and 3rd period like they wanted to win.

They were out there checking, clearing the puck out of their zone, and scored on a pp, and the Penality kill team was awesome. And looking at the standings they are in great shape, 12 games played and 3 points behind Detroit.

Now I will be interested to see what coach Q does with the team over the next several days of just practice. They do have some very good teams coming up and don't forget about the circus trip. They need to just keep getting points out of every game they play. Great game Hawks now keep it up

I agree the first period was pretty lame. Perhaps the team figured that since the Avs played last night, they'd be tired and an easy target.

But the Hawks definitely picked it up in the second.

It's still early in the season, but so far so good.

A slow start but a fast finish.Bolland,Ladd and Buff are really clicking right now. Looks like Sharp is on pace for 40+ this year.Barker's confidence seems to be building with each game. Fun to watch!Congrats to Troy Brouwer!Keep crashing the net!We have to pile on the points at home and get a cushion before the circus trip. Not crazy about the week off but some good practice should be had....GO HAWKS!!

The Hawks are doing this right now without Toews lighting the lamp. That's it boys spread the wealth. Good balanced attack right now...

Yes still early in the season but these Hawks are showing me something different. They are showing me that they can go in the locker room after a period and come out a totally different team. I honestly think that Coach Q is the difference and now they have a week of practice.

The Avs were not tired, if anything I thought that the Hawks would have been. The Avs were all over the Hawks, they flew to the puck. So the Hawks changed it up and adapted. That resulted in them scoring many goals. I am impressed with this team they are playing great.

So the figurine of Kane that they gave away really looks silly. Love Kane, great player but that figurine could have been made to look so much better. And how many of you Hawk fans remember # 10 Reggie Kerr?? Well he was signing autographs last night. The picture of him is awesome it shows him against Gordie Howe when Howe was getting old and his hair was all crazy looking.

Great game after the first period, and I am still impressed with Toews. He does so much I just want him to get that first goal of the year.

Just a small gripe: The Hawks are on a roll and where are they on the front page? Below the fricken Bulls! Even below off season baseball talk. I'll give you the Bears...No respect...ok i'm done.

I can see the Hawks are gaining confidence with every win. I believe that Tim predicted we would get on a roll and grab some wins in sucession so he just may be a prophet in his own time. In another article the Trib noted more shots and more scoring from the D-Men and that could be key to Q's game plan. A week of practise to work on getting the wrinkles out will really help.
Loved Kane's game last night where he moved in stopped , turned and fed the trailer for a one timer GOAL!!! A sweet win. We are going to make the UC a house of pain like the old barn was.Man it is great to be able to write about the Hawks with optimism and realistic hopes for the playoffs.
TIM GET YOUR PLAY OFF TICKETS ORDERED!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!

I posted two other comments about the game and they seemed to have vanished.

Oh well, great game. Slow start fast finish Bolland,Ladd and Buff are really clicking. Barker doesn't make me as nervous anymore...Shots from the point traffic in front,pretty simple eh? Doing this without JT scoring. Sharp on pace for an even bigger year than last. Fun to watch! GO HAWKS!!!

Hawks blow out the Avs and we get 4 photos from David Banks--4 photos that would suggest one of two things: that the Avs won the game or that this is the Colorado Tribune.

The 3rd period was the best period I've seen for the Blackhawks in quite a while. Not just the 4 goals they scored, but there was period of time of 1 1/2 to 2 minutes when they had the Avs completely bottled up in their own end, and the Hawks had scoring chance after scoring chance. THAT is shades of the Blackhawks of old - dynamic offense, scoring threats on defense, and above average defensemen and good goaltending.

If the Hawks keep winning, the media attention could grow a lot by the holidays. Traditionally, the Hawks (and Bulls) take a bit of a backseat to the Bears in October and early November - but if they can win 2 of their next 3 at home (Calgary, St. Loius, San Jose - so not an easy task - especially the Sharks)- and then have a good road trip - thing could really pick up.

The attendance last night was announced at 21,100 and some change - there were - I'd guess roughly 1,500 no-shows (again - mostly in the expensive 100 level). Not a bad showing for a Monday night right after Halloween.....

Yeh, what's with the billing for anything Hawks?

Is there such a thing as a test of the other team, for the first period, then using what you've learned to get matchups and 'D' schemes for the 2nd and 3rd?

Toews, Buff, Burish (again), and Keith were just great in assists, grinding and moving without the puck. Except for Toews, they didn't get much attention and should have. Eddy does do a nice job of seeing to it that the guys, who are doing the job, get a red circle around them and point out what it is that they did to make for a successful play. Nice touch.
Pat is just a really good fit for the Hawks. He may not be the best ever, but it just feels right to hear him calling the game.
I saw the effects of the forging we got in the game with the BJs. The kids are not hogging the limelight, but, they aren't letting anything get away from them either.

It's not what I expected before the season, but, it sure works well. Ladd scoring 2 goals? Sharp the leading scorer? Toews without a goal 12 games into the season? Not your grandfathers hockey team. I know, I am one.

"They're OUR kids, damnit!"

Section 317 wrote:

The 3rd period was the best period I've seen for the Blackhawks in quite a while. Not just the 4 goals they scored, but there was period of time of 1 1/2 to 2 minutes when they had the Avs completely bottled up in their own end, and the Hawks had scoring chance after scoring chance. THAT is shades of the Blackhawks of old - dynamic offense, scoring threats on defense, and above average defensemen and good goaltending.
If the Hawks keep winning, the media attention could grow a lot by the holidays. Traditionally, the Hawks (and Bulls) take a bit of a backseat to the Bears in October and early November - but if they can win 2 of their next 3 at home (Calgary, St. Loius, San Jose - so not an easy task - especially the Sharks)- and then have a good road trip - thing could really pick up.
The attendance last night was announced at 21,100 and some change - there were - I'd guess roughly 1,500 no-shows (again - mostly in the expensive 100 level). Not a bad showing for a Monday night right after Halloween.....

The night after halloween and we got our belated treat!!!!!!!!! great game, great win.

I was at the game last night, like always, and agree with everyone they looked great. A teams character is going to show up (or not) on the road. Too big a difference right now between home Hawks and road Hawks. This homestand is huge but we're not going to know what we have here until December arrives.

Another great win, and through the first dozen comments, no people screaming for Savy to come back....interesting.....

Q has these boys rolling, like I knew he would. NOW, he gets some very valuable practice time with his club to get everyone on the same page. I think this is more important that it really seems. We are on a roll now, and if Q can get them clicking even more. LOOK OUT.

Thoughts on the game:

Horrible first period.... I was worried, we looked like we didn't even want to be there in the 1st. Lazy play in our own zone to get the puck out, and hardly any forecheck. Khabi, what was that?! Really?!

After that, everything looked good. They came out of the locker room after the 1st with that sense of urgency that we have been talking about and it payed off.

Ladd and Buff are starting to click. And what is better then two big bodies making big time plays on the ice?! It took a while to get going, but these guys are going to be a big part of our success.

Barker is looking like the player we EXPECTED him to be. Good control in his own zone, and that shot is starting to get cranked up.

Brouwer, congratulations. However, before last night I was hoping to see him get sent down. I don't think he is ready for the speed of the NHL, his skills are there, but he is not reacting fast enough on the ice.

Sharp, well, he is Sharp. How huge was this trade?! To tell you the truth, I don't remember who we sent to Philly for him, but I'm sure someone will let me know.

This home stand is huge. Win as many as you can before we get kicked out of our house for elephants....

A good week of practice, get everyone on the same page....and i swear, NO MORE TOO MANY MEN ON THE ICE penalties.....

paul wrote:

I can see the Hawks are gaining confidence with every win. I believe that Tim predicted we would get on a roll and grab some wins in sucession so he just may be a prophet in his own time. In another article the Trib noted more shots and more scoring from the D-Men and that could be key to Q's game plan. A week of practise to work on getting the wrinkles out will really help.
Loved Kane's game last night where he moved in stopped , turned and fed the trailer for a one timer GOAL!!! A sweet win. We are going to make the UC a house of pain like the old barn was.Man it is great to be able to write about the Hawks with optimism and realistic hopes for the playoffs.
TIM GET YOUR PLAY OFF TICKETS ORDERED!!!!!!!!!!
GO HAWKS!!!!

Paul, thank you for the nice comments. I am a die hard Hawks fan, and this team is great to see. I am sending an email to the Trib today about this lact of respect the Hawks are getting. They won last night and have a winning record. The bulls lost and have a losing record so whats the deal there. The Hawks are going to go on a roll and win a few games before the circus trip. Lets go Hawks.

Sharp was traded along with another player that was cut to the Hawks in I believe Dec 05 for Matt Ellison. Not sure what happened with Ellison, but I am sure that we got the better part of the trade

Tim - Hockey Rules wrote:

Sharp was traded along with another player that was cut to the Hawks in I believe Dec 05 for Matt Ellison. Not sure what happened with Ellison, but I am sure that we got the better part of the trade

Thanks Tim, it was a steal of a trade, and I was excited to see him come here. I know he was going to be good, but I definitely underestimated how good.

Tim - Hockey Rules wrote:

Sharp was traded along with another player that was cut to the Hawks in I believe Dec 05 for Matt Ellison. Not sure what happened with Ellison, but I am sure that we got the better part of the trade

Last I heard Ellison was in Nashvilles camp..Yeah,score one for the GM.

I just sent an email to the editor of the Tribune complaining about the lact of respect the Hawks are getting. Come on they won and drew over 21k fans on a Monday night and the Bulls, Cubs, and Sox are all priority over the Hawks. This paper needs to get a clue, didn't they just write the article about jumping on the bandwagon???? guys take a few minutes and email the Tribune, here is the address:

ctc-tribletter@tribune.com

Sorry about the vent, I am sick and tired of the lack of respect this team gets.

Bryan - Look at the trade of Ruttu to the hurricanes for Ladd. That trade is looing pretty good to. That guy hits people, creates scoring chances, and scored 2x last night. Ruttu would have scored 2x last night if he was in that position. Tallon does have some foresight, just not sure about all of his moves.

Cam Barker is looking great on the PP. He has that shot that is huge, keep it up. And Sopel needs to re-eval his game. He is making too many stupid mistakes. Remember this is the best start they have had in 7 years.

Ellison's in the KHL..But who cares? haha